Project Summary: 

Closed-loop systems are a type of artificial pancreas used by people with Type 1 Diabetes to manage their blood glucose levels. In a fully closed-loop state, these systems have the potential to significantly reduce the burden placed on those living with Type 1 Diabetes. However, they are currently only available commercially in a hybrid state, which still requires regular user input. Effective control around physical activity remains one of the barriers for closed-loop systems due to the variable effect physical activity can have on an individual’s blood glucose levels.

The project aims to incorporate additional sensor data related to physical activity (eg. heart rate and accelerometer) into closed-loop systems to improve the accuracy of future blood glucose prediction. This will allow for earlier treatment adjustments by the system without user input and improve control around physical activity. The project will involve a user study component to understand what people with type 1 diabetes are wanting and ensure that any systems developed will be relevant to them.

General Profile: 

In the summer of 2020, I graduated from the University of Bristol, receiving a Masters in Engineering in Engineering Mathematics with First Class Honours. A significant proportion of my final year was dedicated to a technical project on the self-proposed title of Personalised Calibration of Flash Glucose Monitoring, which involved decoding raw sensor data and using it to analyse the algorithm in the FreeStyle Libre. This project was of personal relevance to me and the reason I chose the Digital Health and Care CDT programme.

I am a highly motivated individual with a year and a half of industry experience gathered through various placements fitted around my university degree. In this time, I have contributed to knowledge capture systems, developed augmented reality tablet applications and used the experiences to develop important skills. This is something I will continue to do through academic work and personal projects.